Old Ford Lock

Old Ford Lock is a paired lock and weir on the River Lee Navigation, in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, England. It is at Bow on the east side of London. The area, Old Ford is named after the natural ford which used to exist in the area crossing the uncanalised River Lea. Tidal sectionOld Ford Lock marks the start of the Hackney Cut - an artificial channel built in the 18th century to cut off a large loop in the natural channel. The natural river rejoins the Navigation at this point - below the lock, having travelled 2mi from the Middlesex Filter Beds Weir, just below Lea Bridge; and passing to the east of the Navigation. The Old River Lea (the natural channel), is joined by the River Lee Flood Relief Channel, and Dagenham Brook before connecting to the Bow Back Rivers, which join the tidal Bow Creek. Before the 1930s, there were tide gates installed on this channel to only permit boats to pass when the level in the (at that time) semi-tidal Lee Navigation and tidal Old River were the same. After the 1930s flood works on the Bow Back Rivers, and construction of the Carpenter's Road and Marshgate Lane locks, these - and the Pond Lane Flood Gates were redundant as this section was controlled by the new locks - and the (then) tidal lock at Bow Locks.

Old Ford Lock is a paired lock and weir on the River Lee Navigation, in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, England. It is at Bow on the east side of London. The area, Old Ford is named after the natural ford which used to exist in the area crossing the uncanalised River Lea. Tidal sectionOld Ford Lock marks the start of the Hackney Cut - an artificial channel built in the 18th century to cut off a large loop in the natural channel. The natural river rejoins the Navigation at this point - below the lock, having travelled 2mi from the Middlesex Filter Beds Weir, just below Lea Bridge; and passing to the east of the Navigation. The Old River Lea (the natural channel), is joined by the River Lee Flood Relief Channel, and Dagenham Brook before connecting to the Bow Back Rivers, which join the tidal Bow Creek. Before the 1930s, there were tide gates installed on this channel to only permit boats to pass when the level in the (at that time) semi-tidal Lee Navigation and tidal Old River were the same. After the 1930s flood works on the Bow Back Rivers, and construction of the Carpenter's Road and Marshgate Lane locks, these - and the Pond Lane Flood Gates were redundant as this section was controlled by the new locks - and the (then) tidal lock at Bow Locks.